Riot control agent

ABSTRACT

A mixture containing 3,3-bis(aziodomethyloxetane) and o-chlorobenzyl  maloitrile for use as a riot-control gas.

The invention described herein may be manufactured, used, and licensedby or for the Government for governmental purposes without the paymentto us of any royalty thereon.

FIELD OF USE

This invention relates to a pyrotechnic composition which produces ariot-control gas.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Due to the fact that pyrotechnics are dangerous, they must be handledwith due care, particularly for safety sake. What complicates theproblem is that the standard pyrotechnic composition contains amultitude of ingredients, such as fuel, an oxidizer, a coolant, awetting agent, and a filler.

During manufacture, each of the aforesaid ingredients must be added toeach other in a very rigid procedure, and in precise amounts. If thisprocedure is not carried out in the prescribed manner, there is dangerof a hazardous condition which may come into play which could result ina conflagration, fire or even an explosion.

Further, if the ingredients are not incorporated into the composition inthe correct amounts, the composition will not function in the correctmanner to produce the desired amount of gas, or may even malfunction orexplode.

With evidence of the above arguments and facts in our mind, we haveinvented a composition which consists of no more than two components oringredients. This composition functions in the precise manner to producea riot-control gas which is less hazardous to control in manufacture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The composition we have invented is merely a mixture of an energeticmaterial named 3,3-bis(aziodomethyloxetane) and a gas-producing chemicalnamed o-chlorobenzyl malononitrile.

The range of the energetic material in the composition is between 35 to65 percent by weight with the remainder being the cited gas producingmaterial for a total of 100 percent by weight which represents theentire composition. If the amount of the energetic material is below 35percent by weight, the mixture will fail to ignite due to lack ofenergy. On the other hand, if the amount of gas-producing material ispresent below 35 percent by weight, the latter yield of gas will fallbelow acceptable limits. With either ingredients above 35 percent byweight, the other ingredient is present in an amount which will total100 percent by weight in any combination for the total composition.

Experiments were carried out with an equal weight of both components ofthe mixture, i.e., 50 percent by weight for each ingredient. However,such mixtures, although acceptable in functions, were not the best interms of yield of small particle aerosols or what is termed herein asgas.

Based on experience, the best composition contained about 40 percent byweight of the energetic material and 60 percent by weight of thegas-producing material.

PROCEDURE OF MAKING

The energetic material and the gas-producing material are oven-dried at125 degrees F. Each of the cited components are then pushed through ano. 16 sieve screen to assure particle size below 1.1 9 mm in size. Thetwo components are then mixed together, after drying, in a suitablecontainer with a spatula until homogeneous.

RESULTS

The resulting mixture is a smooth burning pyrotechnic that can bedisseminated at will, in large yields of tear-producing gas, into theatmosphere to provide a superior riot-control atmosphere.

The above cool burning mixture produces no toxic gases. It is mostlynitrogen gas and is ideal for riot-control systems, such as M651 CS 40mm grenade.

The cool burning system produces high yields of airborne tear gas, andless of a chance of starting undesired fires in enclosed areas, such asa room.

FIELD OF USE

The mixture has application in both military and law enforcementoperations and may be distributed through systems, such as the M651 40mm grenade.

It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in this art that variouschanges and modifications may be made therein without departing from thescope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A riot-control agent comprising a mixture of3,3-bis(azidomethyloxetane) which is an energizer ando-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile which is a tear gas agent.
 2. Ariot-control agent of claim 1 in which said energizer is present inamount of between about 35 and about 65 percent by weight, and theremainder of a total weight being between about 35 and about 65 percentby weight of said tear gas agent.
 3. The riot control agent of claim 1in which said energizer is present in amount of about 40 percent byweight and said tear gas agent is present in the amount of about 60percent by weight.
 4. The riot control agent of claim 1 in which saidenergizer is present in amount of about 50 percent by weight and saidtear gas agent is present in the amount of about 50 percent by weight.